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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
1.1 There were apologies recieived from Mrs. Pegington.
The following declarations were made: • Councillor Ashley declared a personal interest as he was in receipt of a pension from the Greater Gwent Pension Fund. • Mr. Kelleher declared a personal interest as he was in receipt of a pension from the Greater Gwent Pension Fund. • Mr. Rees declared a personal interest as he was in receipt of a small pension from the Greater Gwent Pension Fund. • Councillor Williams declared a personal interest as both himself and his wife were contributors to, and in receipt of, a pension from the Greater Gwent Pension Fund.
3.1 The minutes of the meeting dated 18th December 2025 were confirmed as an accurate record.
4.1 The Committee was informed that, due to the Chair’s absence from the present meeting, the intention was to deliver the briefing at the conclusion of the July 2026 Committee meeting to ensure that all relevant decision‑makers were able to participate. Officers confirmed that the outstanding actions remained under active monitoring and would be completed within the revised timescales. 4.2 The Committee noted the action sheet.
5.1 Audit Wales provided a detailed update on both financial and performance audit activity. Officers advised that the Annual Audit Summary for 2024–25 would be issued once the Statement of Accounts had been certified. Work on grant claim certification was nearing completion, with the remaining housing benefit claim due for sign‑off within the month. 5.2 Audit Wales also confirmed that completion of the 2024–25 accounts had been delayed due to a number of misstatements requiring further work by the Council’s Finance Team. Substantial corrective effort had already been undertaken, and Audit Wales anticipated being in a position to conclude their opinion between July and August 2026. 5.3 Regarding the performance audit programme, officers reported that all 2024–25 activity had concluded. For 2025–26, the review of recruitment and retention challenges had progressed to the reporting stage, while the digital strategy follow‑up work had been completed and showed strong progress. A regional review of housing adaptations was scheduled for fieldwork during the next reporting period. 5.4 Following questions from the Committee, officers confirmed the following points: • Grant certification work was not routinely reported to the Committee because responsibility lay with external funders; however, any serious concerns would be escalated. • The amended Statement of Accounts would be presented to the Committee following Audit Wales’ completion of their opinion work. • The timeline for both reports remained consistent with previous audit cycles.
6.1 The Business and Democratic Services Support Manager introduced the six‑monthly update on the outcome Council’s engagement with regulatory bodies and the progress made in implementing related recommendations. 6.2 It was reported that the CIW/HIW inspection of Learning Disability Services had identified significant strengths, particularly the effectiveness of the co‑located, integrated service model and the maturity of partnership working. The inspection had also identified several areas requiring improvement, particularly relating to direct payments, capacity for best‑interest assessments and timely applications to the Court of Protection, support for carers, and strengthened employment pathways for individuals with learning disabilities. 6.3 The key findings of the national Child Practice Review were outlined, emphasising the importance of improved governance, stronger multi‑agency systems, more robust school cultures, and enhanced trauma‑informed approaches. Although originating outside the county, the learning was considered directly relevant to local safeguarding arrangements. 6.4 Regarding capital planning, a summary of the findings of the recent Audit Wales national review, noted that the complexity of the grant‑funding landscape continued to present challenges for long‑term planning. Authorities were expected to strengthen the clarity of their asset condition data, enhance outcome‑based evaluation of capital schemes, and ensure elected members received appropriate training to scrutinise capital investment decisions. 6.5 Finally, it was confirmed that the digital strategy follow‑up review had identified strong governance arrangements and effective tracking of recommendations, and that no further recommendations had been issued. 6.6 Following questions from the Committee, officers confirmed the following points: • The council needed to be mindful of the national work that would be reported shortly on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and these would need to be taken into account once published, as this report would link closely to the Learning Disability Services findings. • The safeguarding learning from Gwynedd continued to be embedded through the Gwent Safeguarding Board. • Training for members on capital planning would be reinforced and timetabled appropriately. • Asset Management updates could be incorporated into future Committee cycles to support assurance on condition surveys and capital prioritisation. 6.7 Members undertook their assurance role by: · Reviewing the progress made, as set out in the Action Plan (attached as Appendix 1) to ensure appropriate action was being taken to address recommendations previously accepted by the Council with regards to its governance arrangements · Noted any new recommendations / proposals for improvement received and accepted by the Council since the last update report.
7.1 The Business and Democratic Services Support Manager presented the annual update on the Council’s risk management arrangements, highlighting continued progress in strengthening oversight, consistency and challenge through the Corporate Risk Management Group. Officers reported that the risk register comprised thirty‑six risks across corporate, directorate and service levels, with eight new risks added and fourteen fully mitigated and removed during the reporting period. 7.2 The strengthening of internal challenge processes were outlined, including recent escalation of the Blaenavon Resource Centre risk, which had prompted sharper accountability, defined ownership and successful mitigation. Officers also confirmed that alignment work with Blaenau Gwent under the federated model had made encouraging progress, with both councils seeking to harmonise processes and incorporate shared strengths. 7.3 Looking ahead, the Committee were advised that the Council was exploring the adoption of dedicated risk‑management software to improve transparency, tracking and reporting capabilities, with further work planned for the new financial year. 7.4 Following questions from the Committee, officers confirmed the following points: • Climate and nature emergency risks were inherently large in scale, with numerous interdependent factors and ongoing measurement challenges; however, the Council continued to advance its Climate Emergency Action Plan and refine monitoring. • Work commissioned through the Gwent PSB on regional climate risk would support a clearer understanding of the Council’s own risks. • Future reports would include concise narrative notes clarifying the relationship between removed and newly added risks where applicable. 7.5 Members noted the progress made to date to further embed the process across all directorates for the identification of any risks facing the Council; and the management and monitoring of those identified risks on a quarterly basis throughout the year and were assured the process is robust.
8.1 The Head of Internal Audit presented the quarterly update confirming that 79% of the annual plan had been completed to date, with all core financial systems audited for the year. It was explained that no limited‑assurance opinions or high‑priority recommendations had been issued during the quarter, and that follow‑up work showed positive movement in several areas, including improved control environments within schools. There was a confidence that further reports would be issued before year‑end, ensuring sufficient coverage to support the annual opinion. 8.2 Following questions from the Committee, officers confirmed the following points: • Assurance levels were determined by the proportion of expected controls found to be operating effectively. • Schools improving from limited to moderate assurance had implemented significant corrective measures, and further follow‑up activity would be scheduled to ensure improvements were sustained. • Future reporting could highlight examples of excellent practice identified during audits. 8.3 Members of the Committee noted the content of the report.
9.1 Officers advised that the work programme reflected all expected items for the municipal year, with the exception of the Statement of Accounts, which had been delayed for reasons previously reported. The programme would inform the Chair’s annual report to Council.
10.1 The date of the next meeting was confirmed to be 02/07/25
The Committee agreed to the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting as presentations and meeting papers were not for publication because in accordance with paragraphs 12 and 14 of part 4 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Access to Information Variation Order Wales 2007), it contained information about a particular individual and information relating to the financial and business affairs of particular persons including the Council and in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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